[BC] Formatics

[Gary Glaenzer]

might as well throw in KHMO's version of this story

Ed Summers, the original KHMO  CE, has been described as 'a real
hill-billy', he was definitely a 'character'; he and his family LIVED at the
TX site from 1948 thru the late 60's or early 70's

anyway, the phasor had a balky relay inside and Ed kept an old hardwood cane
next to the back door of the cabinet (interlock jumpered, of course!) to
give it a nudge when needed

one day, after he was a city dweller after the installation of remote
control,  he sent his assistant 'Roger' (last name unknown) out to nudge the
relay one morning at pattern change time

those present tell of Ed on the phone talking Roger thru the diagnosis, and
then there was silence as Roger laid down the phone to do the deed

Suddenly Ed realized he had forgotten a vital step in the instructions and
screamed into the phone 'USE THE CANE, ROGER, USE THE CANE !!!!!!!'

never did hear any further into the story as all the old timers were rolling
on the floor by this time

G


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "SHAFFER, RANDY L" <RandyShaffer at ClearChannel.com>
To: <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:15 PM
Subject: [BC] Formatics


Bob Orban wrote - (snip)

>That was the station that relied on a broom handle for pattern
>changes. I think I've posted this story before on the list, but
>anyway...the engineer had to balance the broom handle on the top of
>the console and aim it at the day/night phasor toggle switch, which
>was mounted in a rack close to the console. While holding the
>opposite end of the broom handle, the engineer went over to the TX,
>dropped carrier with a switch, hit the phasor toggle switch with the
>end of the broom handle, and then brought the TX back up. With a
>little skill, there was only about 3 second of dead air.

I thought we originated that concept in York. When our pattern switch
relay failed, we used this method for several weeks at 1350, WZIX.
The pattern change relay was on top of the Harris MW-5a. You got the
broom handle into position, dropped carrier, shoved hard on the broom
handle to throw the switch and then plates back on. It was probably
2-3sec. Except for the morning I was leaning on the broom handle waiting
for the clock to hit 7:15. I fell asleep standing with my back against
the phasor and leaning on the broom handle. Pattern change was a little
late that day.